Process for forming a guideline on a road surface

Abstract

A metal detector and distance sensor for a motor vehicle. A departure of the motor vehicle from a correct path indicated by one or two metal lines covered with paint in the road is signaled. The metals lines are formed by projecting a jet of metal in the gaseous state at high speed onto the road surface. A covering of paint is then formed over the metal line on the road surface. A turbine supplied by an air compressor projects the jet of metal in the gaseous state from a vehicle or a trailer having a metal supply device and a painting device thereon. A display indicates the direction of departure from the correct path and the distance separating the motor vehicle from a preceding vehicle. Alarm signals can be emitted upon the departure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A process for forming on a road surface at least one guide line which contains metal detectable by a metal detector, comprising the steps of: fusing metal in an arc torch and producing a jet of vaporized metal;   accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air;   further accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine;   projecting the resulting jet of vaporized metal onto a road surface to form a metal coating on a portion of the road surface; and   covering the metal on the road surface with paint.   
     
     
       2. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity. 
     
     
       3. A process as defined in claim 2 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air and a turbine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint. 
     
     
       4. A process as defined in claim 2, wherein the metal is fused to form vaporized metal containing gaseous metal vapor entrained in air, wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity, and wherein the metal is zinc or aluminum. 
     
     
       5. A process as defined in claim 1 wherein the jet of metal is projected onto the road surface at an almost supersonic velocity. 
     
     
       6. A process as defined in claim 5 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by compressed air and a turbine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint. 
     
     
       7. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
       8. A process as defined in claim 5, wherein the metal is zinc. 
     
     
       9. A process as defined in claim 1 comprising the further step of mounting a device in an automotive vehicle or trailer to perform the steps of fusing metal, accelerating the jet of vaporized metal by air compressed air and turine, projecting the resulting jet of metal onto a road surface, and covering said metal with paint. 
     
     
       10. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein the metal is aluminum and the arc torch is an electric arc torch. 
     
     
       11. A process as defined in claim 9, wherein the metal is zinc and the arc torch is an electric arc torch. 
     
     
       12. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is aluminum. 
     
     
       13. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is zinc. 
     
     
       14. A process as defined in claim 1, wherein the metal is fused to form vaporized metal containing gaseous metal vapor entrained in air and wherein the step of accelerating the jet of vaporized metal in a turbine accelerates the metal to an almost supersonic velocity.